KR101918906B1 - Fuel tank arrangement of marine vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel tank arrangement for a marine vessel comprising a fuel tank (50) for liquefied natural gas (LNG), the fuel tank comprising a shell (60), a heat insulator (62) A pipeline 68 for bunkering to the tank 50, a pipeline 70 for taking the vapor from the fuel tank 50 and a pipeline 86 for taking LNG from the fuel tank 50, And a cardial pump 58 for pumping LNG from the tank 50 to the pipeline 86. At least one recess 56 extends inwardly from the shell 60 and is also connected to the fuel tank 50, And the heart pump 58 is disposed in at least one recess 56. The heart pump 58,

Description

Fuel tank arrangement of marine vessel

The present invention relates to a fuel storage tank arrangement in a marine vessel. More specifically, the present invention relates to an LNG fuel storage tank arrangement having multiple LNG connections on top of the fuel tank. The fuel tank arrangement of the present invention covers both the LNG cargo tanks for transporting the LNG and the LNG fuel tanks for supplying fuel to the engine (s) of the marine vessel.

The use of LNG (liquefied natural gas) as marine fuel is increasing because it is an efficient way to reduce emissions. Within the next few decades, natural gas (NG) is expected to be the world's fastest growing primary energy source. The driving force behind this development is the depletion of known oil reserves, increasing environmental conservation and sustained emission tightening. All major emissions are significantly reduced to legitimately form an environmentally sound solution; In particular, the reduction of CO ₂ is difficult to achieve with conventional oil-based fuels. NG consists of methane (CH ₄ ) with a low concentration of heavy hydrocarbons such as ethane and propane. NG is gas at normal ambient conditions, but can be liquefied by cooling it to -162 ° C. In liquid form, certain volumes are significantly reduced, which allows a reasonably sized storage tank with respect to the amount of energy. The combustion process of NG is clean. Its high hydrogen-to-carbon ratio (the highest of the fossil fuel) means a low C0 ₂ release compared to oil-based fuel. When NG is liquefied, all the sulfur is removed, which means zero SO _x emissions. The clean combustion characteristics of NG also significantly reduce NO _x and particulate emissions compared to oil based fuels. Particularly in cruise ships, ferries and so-called Loxas vessels on which passengers are boarded, the absence of soot emissions and visible smoke in the marine engine exhaust is a very important feature.

LNG is not only an environmentally friendly solution, but also economically interesting for today's oil prices. The most feasible way to store NG in ships is in liquid form. In existing marine installations, the LNG is stored in a cylindrical, single wall or double wall insulated stainless steel or 9% Ni steel tank.

A common feature for such LNG fuel storage tanks is that the tanks typically have a so-called dome at the top of the tank. All connections between the tank interior and the external fuel system are located in the tank dome. In other words, not only the heart pumps used to discharge LNG from the tank, but also the connection for bunkering the LNG to the tank, the connection for removing the boil-off gas (BOG) and the LNG- The connection is attached to the dome. Also, a plurality of valves arranged in relation to the connections may be located near the dome above the tank.

If the dome is extended upward from the tank, especially the heart pump attached to the dome, the space required by them in the vertical direction on the tank becomes a problem. The problem arises in relation to LNG tanks arranged inside marine vessels between decks in the worst case. Sometimes, that is, when the LNG tank is at the top deck or at the first deck below the main deck, such a problem is solved by arranging the opening to the dome and associated equipment in the top deck, Side deck.

However, while the same practice may not apply when an LNG tank is located, for example, below the lowest car deck of a car ferry, the dome is fitted with an associated LNG tank so that it can be fitted between the tank and the deck on the tank, Should be reduced. That is, in this kind of case, the overall height of the LNG fuel tanks must be fitted between the two decks of the marine vessel. In practice, this arrangement means that the storage volume available to the LNG is significantly reduced because there must be a room left between the top of the LNG tank and the connections associated with the top deck, dome and dome for the heart pump.

All pipe connections on the LNG storage tank must be installed in the second barrier. The second barrier is a liquid resistance external element of the LNG or LNG fuel suppression system designed to temporarily inhibit any expected leakage of liquid fuel or cargo through the first barrier and also to prevent the temperature of the ship structure from dropping to an unsafe level to be. These second barriers are typically made of stainless steel. The flow in the various pipelines with respect to the prior art LNG fuel storage tanks is arranged at the top of the dome of the tank or tank inside the second barrier and thus takes up additional space at the height Lt; / RTI >

The flow in the various pipelines with respect to the prior art LNG fuel storage tanks is arranged in the tank connection space at the end of the LNG fuel tanks or at the top of the dome of the tank by means of valves taking up additional space in height Respectively. This means that the pipelines are taken from the dome at the top of the LNG fuel tank to the end of the tank connection space and, in some cases, the same fluid taken from the dome returns from the tank connection space back to the dome. That is, for example, if the LNG in the tank is pumped out of the tank to return to the tank through the spray nozzle for temperature control purposes, the LNG is taken to the tank connection space according to the prior art. This unnecessary circulation not only increases pumping losses, but also increases heat transfer within the LNG tank. The classification rule also requires that all shut-off valves be installed as close as possible to the tank penetration, which is difficult in the prior art.
EP-A2-1351013 discloses containers for holding solid, liquid and / or gaseous products internally and for use in a mobile or stationary support structure. The container maximizes the compression product volume contained therein and also prevents liquid and / or contaminant contamination from the liquid phase product during gas product delivery.
US-A-5,097,976 discloses a fluid restraint device comprising a fluid tank, a well wall and a closed system. The tank has a tank shell, said tank shell having a tank shell opening at least partially defining and passing through the fluid confining section. The well wall is fixed to the tank shell and is positioned in the shell opening and defines a well recessed into the fluid confining section and also at least partially recessed.
EP-A2-1347231 discloses a tank having two ends defining a cylindrical wall section and a cylindrical tank periphery, said tank periphery having an interior and an exterior; A concave valve box having one or more side walls, a bottom wall and a removable and sealable top cover, the top cover being attachable to the one or more side walls to seal the valve box, The recessed valve box sealably connected to the cylindrical wall section such that the bag box extends through the cylindrical wall section into the interior of the tank periphery and partially or wholly within the interior of the tank periphery; And a system for transferring and storing products comprising one or more valves disposed within a valve box.

Thus, in view of the feasible aspect, it is an object of the present invention to design a new LNG fuel tank arrangement for marine vessels, the new LNG fuel tank arrangement having an overall height of the LNG tank and a position of the flow control valves Thereby solving the above-mentioned problems.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel LNG fuel tank in which a heart pump used to pump LNG out of the fuel tank is arranged in a recess arranged on top of the LNG fuel tank.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel LNG fuel tank wherein valves for controlling the flow tanks are arranged in recesses arranged on top of the LNG fuel tanks.

At least one object of the invention is substantially satisfied by a fuel tank arrangement of a marine vessel comprising a fuel tank for liquefied natural gas (LNG), said fuel tank comprising a shell, a heat insulator connected to said shell, Pipelines for bunching LNG, pipelines for taking the vapor from the fuel tank and pipeline connections for taking LNG from the fuel tank, cardio pumps for pumping LNG from the tank into the pipeline, and inward from the shell The at least one recess being elongated and arranged at the top of the fuel tank, wherein the atrial pump is installed in at least one recess, the recess has a bottom and a sidewall, the atrial pump comprises a pump, a riser and a drive motor Wherein the riser passes through the bottom and the drive motor of the heart pump is at least partly recessed It is positioned.

Advantageously, the fuel tank arrangement described above permits at least in part the installation of a heart pump, in particular a drive motor, in the outer diameter of the LNG fuel tank, thereby reducing the vertical space required by the heart pump. Thus, the need to reduce the diameter of the LNG fuel tanks so that the LNG tanks can be fitted between the two decks of the marine vessel is avoided.

In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings.

1A schematically shows a longitudinal cross section of a prior art LNG fuel tank.
Figure 1b schematically shows a cross section of a prior art LNG fuel tank taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the LNG fuel tank.
2A schematically shows a longitudinal section of an LNG fuel tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2b schematically shows a cross section of the LNG fuel tank of Figure 2a taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the LNG fuel tank.
Figure 3 schematically shows a partial longitudinal cross-section of the recess of the present invention.

1A and 1B schematically illustrate a prior art single-wall LNG fuel tank 10 installed between a lower deck 12 and an upper deck 14 of a marine vessel. The dashed line 14 'represents an optional top deck where the top deck may have an opening to the dome 16 of the LNG-fuel tank 10. The LNG fuel tank 10 is installed on the lower deck 12 by two or more saddles 18. The single wall LNG fuel tank has a shell 20, a heat insulator 22 outside the shell 20, and a cladding 24 outside the heat insulator. If the fuel tank is a double walled tank, the insulation is between the shells of the fuel tank. Normally, the heat insulating material 22 is about 300 mm thick and is formed of polyurethane, but insulating materials having different dimensions may also be used. That is, in the case of a double-walled tank, in addition to conventional insulation, vacuum or pearlitally filled vacuum may be used. The cladding 24 outside the heat insulating material 22 is for protecting the heat insulating material from external wear, weather, and the like. The cladding 24 is preferably made of galvanized steel sheet, glass fiber reinforced polyester or the like.

Above the LNG fuel tank 10, a dome 16 projecting radially upward from the shell 20 is provided. The dome 16 includes openings connecting pipeline lines 26, 28 and 30 to the tank connection space 32 arranged at the longitudinal end of the LNG fuel tank 10 within the LNG fuel tank 10 Respectively. The pipeline 26 is used to remove evaporative gas from the LNG fuel tank and the pipeline 28 is used to bunker the LNG to the LNG fuel tank 10 and the pipeline 30 also includes a spray header 34, And is used to supply the LNG fuel tank with the re-condensed LNG through the nozzle 36. The dome 16 also includes a cardial pump 38 which is connected to a centrifugal pump 38 arranged at the lower end of the riser 42 proximate to the bottom of the LNG fuel tank 10, 40). The cardiac pump further comprises a drive motor 44, generally an electric motor, at the upper end of the riser 42, which extends 1 to 2 meters above the dome top surface, depending on the diameter of the LNG fuel tank 10 actually. The riser 42 between the dome 16 and the drive motor 44 has a pipeline connection 46 for discharging the LNG from the fuel tank 10 into the tank connection space 32. The drive 44 of the heart pump 38, the dome 16 and the pipelines leading from the dome 16 to the tank connection space 32 are enclosed within the second barrier 48. The tank connection space 32 includes valves (not shown) for controlling the flow in the pipelines 26-30 and 46 among other equipment, and LNGs used as fuel in one or more internal combustion engines of the marine vessel And an evaporator for delivering the vapor. In another option, when the tank is simply a cargo tank for transporting fuel, the tank connection space does not have an evaporator, but the pipeline connection 46 is used to unload the LNG fuel from the tank.

2A and 2B schematically illustrate a novel LNG fuel tank 50 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The LNG fuel tank 50 of the present invention has a basic configuration similar to that of the prior art tank of Figs. 1A and 1B. Accordingly, the single wall (or double wall) LNG fuel tank 50 of the present invention is supported by the saddle 58 at the lower deck 52 of the marine vessel. The LNG fuel tank 50 is generally located below the upper deck 54 of the marine vessel. The single wall LNG fuel tank 50 includes a shell 60, a heat insulator 62 arranged outside the shell 60 and a heat insulating material 62 provided on the heat insulator 62 for protecting the heat insulator from impact, abrasion, sunlight, And a cladding 64. The cladding 64 is preferably made of, for example, a galvanized steel sheet, a glass fiber reinforced polyester, or the like. If the fuel tank is a double walled tank, the insulation is between the inner shell of the fuel tank and the outer shell. The insulation itself is known from the prior art. The LNG fuel tank 50 of the present invention may also include a centrifugal or other suitable pump 80, a riser 82 and a cardial pump 78 having a drive motor 84 and a respective pump 78 for bunching the LNG to the tank , At least four pipeline connections (68-72 and 86) for re-condensing the LNG to the tank, and for removing the LNG from the LNG tank, for removing the vapor from the tank.

However, in comparison with the prior art LNG fuel tanks, the LNG fuel tanks 50 of the present invention do not have a dome extending radially upward from the outer shell, but are provided in the shell 60 of the LNG fuel tank 50, Tub or pool, that is, a kind of inverted dome, that provides a room for the pipeline connections 78-72 and pipeline connections 68-72.

Figure 3 schematically shows a partial cross-sectional view of the "inverted dome" of the present invention. In Fig. 3 it is shown that the recess has a preferred but not essential horizontal bottom 56 'and sidewall 56 ". Preferably, the side wall 56 " is substantially vertical, but also a somewhat inclined sidewall may be used. The horizontal cross-section of the recess 56 may be circular, but also shapes such as rectangles with elliptical, rectangular or rounded edges may also be used. Also, when talking about the side wall 56 " of the recess 56, the overall perimeter of the recess is meant, i.e., the rectangular recess may be considered to have four side walls, The "sidewall" covers all the sidewalls of the recess 56. The recess has a depth D1 of 5 to 30%, preferably 5 to 15% of the diameter of the LNG fuel tank 50.

The recess of Figure 3 includes a plurality of valves as well as pipeline connections, and the flow of the various liquids and gases is controlled by the plurality of valves. That is, the pipeline 68 for introducing the LNG to the LNG storage tank 50 has a valve 88, and the LNG flow to the tank 50 is controlled by the valve 88. The spray headers 74 and spray nozzles 76 are connected to the pipeline 72 from the bunching pipeline 68 via valve 90 or from the LNG exhaust pipeline 86 through valve 92 as recirculation LNG is accommodated. The pipeline 70, which takes up the vapor from the tank 50, is connected to a valve 94 for controlling the discharge of gas to the bunker station or, if necessary, to the vapor return connection leading to the atmosphere through a safety relief valve, (If the tank is the LNG-fuel tank used to lubricate the engine (s)) and a valve 96 for taking the vaporized gas into the pipeline 86 leading to the evaporator. The LNG discharge line 86 connected to the heart valve pump riser 82 through the bottom portion 56 'of the shell 60 and the heat insulator 62 includes a valve (not shown) for controlling the discharge of LNG from the LNG fuel storage tank 50 98). The arrows on each pipeline 68-72 and 86 indicate the direction of flow in the pipeline.

The above-mentioned device devices, i.e., pipelines and valves, include only a pipeline 68 for bunching the LNG, a pipeline 70 for draining the evaporative gas, and a pipeline 86 for taking the pumped LNG into the evaporator Should be arranged in the second barrier (100) so as to be taken outside the second barrier (100). The above-described apparatus may be entirely fitted to the recess 56, which may be partially located outside the recess 56, or may be located exclusively outside the recess 56. Preferably, however, at least one valve is located inside the recess. Thus, the position of the device device depends entirely on the size of the recess 56, i.e., its width and depth. However, it is necessary for the heart pump to be arranged in the recess 56 to operate the present invention, i.e. to solve the problem that leads to the present invention. The recess may not necessarily be deep enough to accommodate the pump (or rather, its outlet connection and drive motor) entirely within the recess, but in any case, a substantial portion of the vertical height of the heart pump is within the "inverted dome" . That is, the drive motor is at least partially located within the recess in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As a result, the diameter of the LNG fuel storage tank 50 is thus increased as compared to the LNG fuel tank of the prior art.

In view of the above, it should also be understood that there is not only one recess on top of the LNG fuel tank, but also two or more recesses may be additionally provided. Naturally, the recesses may have a different size (s), since the accommodating device device (s) may be shallower, while accommodating the heart pump is clearly the deepest.

While the present invention has been described herein with reference to what is presently considered to be the most preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, It is to be understood that various combinations or modifications of the features and various other applications that fall within the scope of the invention are intended to be covered. It should be understood that the tank arrangement includes various features not shown in the drawings for clarity, for example, that all equipment in each tank arrangement associated with determining the pressure, temperature or LNG surface height in the tank It is to be understood that they are not shown.

Claims (14)

A fuel tank arrangement for a marine vessel comprising a fuel tank (50) for liquefied natural gas (LNG)
The fuel tank includes a shell 60; A heat insulator (62) connected to the shell; A pipeline 68 for bunkering LNG to the fuel tank 50, a pipeline 70 for taking boil-off gas from the fuel tank 50, Connections for the pipeline 86 to take the LNG from; A deep well pump 78 for pumping LNG from the tank 50 to the pipeline 86; And at least one recess (56) extending inwardly from the shell (60) and arranged above the fuel tank (50)
The heart pump is arranged in the at least one recess 56 and the recess has a bottom 56 'and a sidewall 56''and the heart pump 78 comprises a pump 80, (82) and a drive motor (84), the riser (82) passing through the bottom (56 '
Characterized in that the drive motor (84) of the cardiac pump (78) is located at least partially inside the recess (56). The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that said side wall (56 ") has an opening to the pipeline (70) taking up the vapor from the fuel tank (50). The method according to claim 1,
The fuel tank 50 is provided with spray means 74 and 76 for spraying the LNG to the fuel tank 50 and a pipeline 72 for introducing the LNG to the spray means 74 and 76 Fuel tank arrangement of a marine vessel, characterized. The method of claim 3,
Characterized in that said side wall (56 '') has at least one opening for said pipeline (72) and one of said atomizing means (74,76). The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that the fuel tank (50) has a diameter and the at least one recess has a depth of 5 to 30% of the diameter of the fuel tank (50). The method according to claim 1,
The valves 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98 control the flow in or between the pipelines 68, 70, 72, , 98) are arranged in the at least one recess (56). The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that said at least one recess (56) is covered from above by a second barrier (100). 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Wherein the fuel tank is a single wall fuel tank having a heat insulating material on the shell and a cladding provided on the heat insulating material. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Wherein the fuel tank is a double wall fuel tank having an inner shell and an outer shell and having a heat insulating material between the inner shell and the outer shell. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Characterized in that the fuel tank (50) is installed between the lower deck (12) of the marine vessel and the upper deck (14). 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Characterized in that the fuel tank (50) is a tank for storing the LNG taken as fuel through the evaporator for one or more internal combustion engines of the marine vessel or a tank for transporting the LNG. Arrangement.
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